A letter from an Adventurer

[Natalia Brynmad]

Dear Natalia,

I have received word from Link that he has passed the deed of his cottage to you. Congratulations, and welcome to the world of the Arcanum’s property taxes. Link told me that you have left my room intact, and I am welcome back any time. I thank you for this offer Natalia, and I plan on returning once I have finished my studies.

Life at the temple is fine. I have learned much here, from history lessons on the Sho, to survival tactics. As this is a temple of Ryujii, our main focus is on combat though. I must say, I enjoy living here, in the mountains of Linvak. Our only concerns are the occasional bands of drudges looking for food, or rarely assaults from the Gotrok Raiders. But for the most part, it is quite peaceful here, and the mountain air has been good on my lunges.

We have heard of Varicci’s invasion, but it does not seem to concern most of the warriors here. They believe they are safe here in this secluded mountain temple; Varicci’s men will not bother to come here. But I am of the minority here. Even though we separate from Elysa’s realm, we are still “bloodless” and the Viamontians will not stop till every Sho, Aluvian, and Gharu’ndim are gone from Dereth.

For now, I shall enjoy my relative safety. When I have reached the level of power the commoners of New Aluvia equate to the number fifty, I will leave this temple, and join the fight against the Viamontians.

Good health to you,

an Adventurer

[Natalia Brynmad]

Today I have received another letter from an adventurer, a reply to the letter I had sent back to him a few days earlier. here it is:

Dear Natalia,

Please send my apologies to your Viamontian friend. I did not realize there was more than one faction of them here on Auberean. On Ispar, the Sho nation never had much contact with Viamont. So I had very little knowledge of them to begin with.

I have learned much since I wrote to you last. My master here instructed me to head to Tou-Tou. I was given no more direction, as is usual with most of the trials I face here. I went to the town’s shrine to pray for enlightenment - for guidance. It was there where I found a note from a fellow Sho. His name is Honshu Takeda. He had lost his way, but found it again. I followed his footsteps. His path led me to the grace of Chiran-tou, the splendor of Iiwah, and the power of Ryujii. It was one of the most difficult trials I have faced so far, but I have reached a higher state of enlightenment because of it.

I have one more tale for you, Natalia.

I was in my sleeping chamber, when I woke to the sound of my door sliding shut. I could see through the paper walls of my room a silhouette of a robed figure. At the foot of my bedroll was a folded piece of parchment. It read:

Ryujin (the name for students here),

You have done well to follow Takeda’s way. I have heard of one even more enlightened than Takeda, one of the first of our people to come to this world. Collect your things. You must head to 58 south by 40 east.

So I did as I was instructed. I journeyed to the location of 58 S by 40 E. This alone proved to be quite difficult, for there was a fierce, windy snow storm in the mountains that morning.

As I approached the location, I saw a Sho spire perched atop a hill. When I got closer, I saw a smaller Sho building next to the spire, one of the L shaped buildings. Between the two structures was a lifestone. A nice place for an old warrior to spend his last days, I thought.

I slide open the Spire door, but to my surprise, there was no one inside, and only a few pieces of pottery and a screen for furnishings. So I stepped back outside, and went to the smaller building. Inside was a young woman, a peddler of wears no one would want to buy.

“Welcome,” she said, “how may I serve you?” I told her why I had come there. “Ah. You seek Rejien Tanaki. He is in the spire” I had just been in the spire, and no one was there. But, I stepped outside and entered the tower once more.

To my surprise, the room was now filled with lit candles, jade stones and figurines, exquisitely decorated pillows on the floor, and a man wearing a full suit of ceremonial Koujia armor. “Rejien Tanaki?” I asked. He nodded, and motioned for me to join him in meditation. Tanaki then spoke into my mind, “There is a tumerok outside. He has a gift for you.” I opened my eyes, and the spire had returned to it’s previous state, and Tanaki was gone.

I stepped outside and sure enough, there was a tumerok priest approaching from the west. I drew my assault axe, and slew him with a single blow. As I rummaged through his belongings, something caught my eye - a small crystal, glowing with a powerful magic. I stared deep into the crystal, and I discovered it was a very rare gem indeed! Should I choose to crush it between my hands, it will greatly increase my understanding of the arcane arts. I would be so enlightened, I dare say I could know how to activate even the most difficult enchanted jewelry or clothing. Truly a blessing, for as you know, I do not use any schools of magic.

Take care Natalia. The next time you hear from me should be in person, as I am nearly ready to leave the temple.

Your friend,

an Adventurer